The California GOP
is rapidly approaching the edge of a black hole from which there is no escape.
But rather than reverse course by appealing to the needs and aspirations of
average Californians, the response by some Republicans in the Legislature is to
rush forward to throw themselves into the abyss by supporting policies that
punish the middle-class.

Only a quarter
of California voters are registered Republicans, barely more than those
declaring no party preference. In the Legislature, Republicans number less than
a third of lawmakers in each house.

There was a time
when even some Democrats in the Legislature supported a healthy economy,
taxpayers’ rights and Proposition 13. If any still exist, they are hiding under
their desks. Over the last two decades, that party has lurched to the left and
those now in Sacramento are devoted to serving the interests of government (aka
public sector unions), the ever-expanding entitlement class and the wealthy
denizens of coastal enclaves.

For taxpayers,
criticizing Democrats is almost too easy given how thoroughly they have
abandoned the middle class. But Republicans have traditionally been held to a
much higher standard when it comes to taxation and fiscal responsibility. The
question now is the extent to which taxpayers can trust Republicans at all.

With Republican
support, the California legislature passed several bills slamming California’s
ever-shrinking middle class. First, there was perhaps one of the most unpopular
bills in California history, Senate Bill 1, imposing $52 billion in permanent
new gas taxes and user fees on California drivers. Next was the infamous
“cap-and-trade” legislation, Assembly Bill 398. In a few short years, drivers
could be paying a buck and a half a gallon just in taxes and climate fees when
added to the already sky-high levies imposed by the state. Last, but certainly
not least, is Senate Bill 2, part of the California’s ineffective and counterproductive
response to the housing shortage. The bill would impose a $75 to $225
“recording fee” on all real estate transactions and generate as much as $258
million annually. Only in California and Monty Python movies would a tax on
real estate be considered a rational response to a housing shortage.

Let’s be clear.
Those legislators who best defend taxpayers are still Republican. But
unfortunately, those faithful few are being smeared by association with those
who bend with the wind, succumb to the next big campaign contribution or
promise of some “juice committee” appointment or lobbying gig. Note that the
reverse is true as well: Some Republican legislators who stood firm for
taxpayers were punished by having their committee assignments revoked or banished
to the smallest office in the Capitol.

Average
taxpayers understand how painful these tax hikes are. But they probably don’t
understand how politically incompetent the Republican leadership was in getting
them passed. Republican support for tax hikes allowed targeted Democrats in
marginal districts (those where a Republican has a chance of winning) to vote
against the tax hikes. These Democrats can now seize the mantle of fiscal
responsibility even though everyone knows that, had their vote for the hikes
been necessary for passage, they would have voted yes. Time and time again,
Republican support of tax hikes allowed the “lifeboating” of Democrats in swing
districts. To use a phrase by one party leader, this was “felony stupid.”

Taxpayer
advocates take no joy in the slow immolation of the Republican Party.

The loss of any
effective opposition from a minority party is a loss to all Californians. A
strong democratic process relies on the competition of ideas. Moreover, one
party rule has led to an extraordinary abuse of power in several areas including
campaign rules, shutting down debate and jerry-rigging agencies and commissions
in ways to crush political opposition. The loss of a vibrant Republican Party
in California will accelerate the state’s metamorphosis into a Venezuela-like
banana republic.

In order to have
a chance against the power and money of the Democrats, Republicans need to
distinguish themselves on critical matters of policy. Unlike social issues—as
important as they may be—the fiscal issues of economical government, reasonable
taxation and protection of Proposition 13 have been the rock to which
Republicans have wisely clung as California’s political skies have turned from
purple to blue. A return to these principles is a necessary first step for the
GOP to repair its damaged reputation.